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Heading into Sunday’s final round of the 2026 PGA Championship, it felt like it was anyone’s game, because it pretty much was. An unprecedented 21 players were within four shots of 54-hole leader Alex Smalley, but it was England’s Aaron Rai who managed to separate himself from the pack at Aronimink and not look back to become a major champion.
Rai, who started the week ranked 44th in the world, came out firing on Sunday, but after making a four-foot birdie on the first hole, he quickly fell into the inevitable course that all players faced in the final round of having to remain patient and accept what the golf course gave him.
Aaron Rai of England tees off on the 2nd hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) (David Cannon/Getty Images)
After a poor tee shot on the difficult par-3 8th hole and then an airmail on the green with his bunker shot, disaster quickly entered the equation, but the 31-year-old managed to convert a four-foot putt into bogey. It was one of those bogeys that allowed us to gain momentum, and that momentum was used on the next hole.
Rai reached the par-5 9th hole in two and sank a 40-footer for eagle. It was a nice bonus heading into the final nine, who played like the tougher team throughout the week, but Rai didn’t buy into that narrative on Sunday.
As the entire course and golf tournament went into neutral for what seemed like several hours with the last groups making the rounds, Rai stepped on the accelerator.
England’s Aaron Rai hits his second shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) (David Cannon/Getty Images)
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After landing another birdie on the par 4 11th, it is his birdie on the 299 yard par 13th that he can consider THE moment.
Left with a very risky bunker shot from 40 yards, Rai had the option to play relatively conservatively and leave himself about 20 feet up the hill for a birdie. Or he could hit the golf ball right up to the hole and cause a slope away from the hole just beyond the pin. He didn’t hesitate and left the green with another birdie and a two-shot advantage.
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Although the 13th hole was open to all players in the field, Rai’s birdie actually put a shot over many contenders on Sunday. Nick Taylor, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele each made bogey on the hole, while Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed and Smalley were also unable to take advantage of the short hole.
Rai officially put his hand on the door to close it by reaching the par-5 16th hole in two and making one of the most comfortable birdies you’ll ever see, and officially closed it with a 68-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.
Rai played his final 10 holes at six under par and without a blemish on the scoreboard before signing for a 65 and a three-shot victory at nine under overall.
The five-under round marked two his lowest score in a major championship. A major championship Sunday for the round of your life is something special.
Rai being the last man among Ludvig Aberg, McIlroy, Rahm, Reed and Schauffele – who all started the day three shots off the lead – has a sense of serendipity, which was the theme of the week at Aronimink.
Aaron Rai of England waves to the crowd on the 18th green during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Émilee Chinn/Getty Images) (Émilee Chinn/Getty Images)
At the start of the week, the most common prediction was that players would be able to take down the Donald Ross-designed golf course. The absence of trees and water obstacles left room for a spray and gouge approach. At least that’s what we thought.
Rai began the week ranked 160th on the PGA Tour in average driving distance and finished the week ranked 66th in driving distance among the 82 players who made the cut.
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Although Rai is known for being one of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour, he has also made a habit of being an incredibly streaky putter. The flatstick is often a villain for Rai, but it was his best friend throughout the week as he finished fourth in the field in strokes gained on greens.
With his victory, Rai became the first non-American to lift the Wanamaker Trophy since Australian Jason Day in 2015, and the first European to return to the PGA winner’s circle since Rory McIlroy in 2014.
